Since starting the TV Blackbox website, I have prided myself on delivering exclusives and getting information right. On this occasion I did not.
Each month this website is visited by almost 400,000 unique users with over one million page views. The growth we have experienced in a relatively short time is due to us being seen as a reliable source of information, especially within the TV industry.
Our stories are often picked up by other media because our information is factual and correct.
Today I posted a story that was not only incorrect, but it was a complete fabrication.
I did not intentionally post ‘fake news’, but it turns out that’s exactly what I did.
As has been widely reported, Denise Drysdale suffered a serious fall while on the set of Channel 7’s new show Holey Moley. Like other media, I have been investigating to find out what really happened.
On no less than three occasions I have been told from within the walls at Channel 7 the accident happened on a flat part of the ground and Denise was playing up to the crowd.
It turns out this information was the result of whispers, not based in reality.
Today I have had robust conversations with talent manager David Wilson about the story. I admire and respect David and have only ever known him to be a truthful person, so when he swore to me the story was wrong I had to listen.
To further prove his point, David has released a statement emphatically denying my story.
I respect the fact he has put his name on the release.
After further investigations I can confirm Denise was in fact in the middle of filming the segment for the show.
Furthermore, she was not playing up to the audience as the time of the accident. In fact, she had been playing up to the audience earlier as required by the producers of the program – but nothing of note happened during that time.
TV Blackbox understands Eureka Productions, the makers of the Holey Moley, have been looking after Denise and are eager to make sure her medical costs are covered.
Workcover is currently investigating the incident.
Of concern, however, is news that Denise did not know she would be hooked up to electrodes to film the segment. Her filming requirements started at 10.30pm and the accident happened around 3.30am.
TV Blackbox understands executives at Seven are not happy about Denise being put in such a situation and the press it has received.
I have spoken to one of my sources tonight who was apologetic for the misunderstanding.
But the fact is I got it wrong. And for that I apologise to Denise and her manager David.
I’m off to eat some humble pie!
How disgraceful of the production company to send out a made up narrative to hide their incompetence. Who would want to do business with them? Hope they have to pay out big time and work cover smashes them. Poor Denise!